Choosing the Best Electronic Keyboard

A more lightweight and space-saving counterpart to the standard acoustic piano, the best electronic keyboard is a great and often affordable option for beginners or dedicated musicians. Some are even portable, or easy to rest on your lap if you prefer to be more comfortable as you play.

An electronic keyboard will obviously not be the same as a real acoustic piano, but some models come pretty close as far as the sound and the feel of the keys. Maybe you’ll like the difference. Keep an eye on the structure of the keys, whether or not they’re weighted, and the material that the keyboard is made out of, if you have a preference.

There are lots of options and features available for an electronic keyboard, and it can be hard to filter out the good from the not-so-good. We pooled a selection of the top 10 best brands and the different types of keyboards to make it easier to decide which one is best for you.

​Yamaha P71 88-Key Weighted Action Digital Piano

We Reviewed The Top 10 Best Electronic Keyboard

There are three different sizes of keyboards available on our list: 61-key, 76-key, and 88-key. The smaller 61-key keyboards are great for beginners, especially kids or musicians that plan on keeping their usage casual. 76-key has more notes, and therefore more music you can play. A full 88-key keyboard matches that of most regular acoustic pianos; it’s better for more serious players and musicians that intend to continue improving and perhaps performing.

61-Key

The best electronic keyboard is great for a beginner, or the casual player without a need for the extra keys at either end. While regular acoustic pianos have 88 keys, 61 keys is plenty for beginners to learn on, as the simpler music they’d be playing would not necessitate too many keys.

This electronic keyboard comes with standard-size keys, not smaller ones that are sometimes common in other keyboards. It comes with 100 sounds, 100 rhythms, 50 songs, and an LCD screen to make selections. It weighs less than 20 pounds, and can be easily detached from a stand and transported if needed. The keyboard is just over 35 inches long, making it good for smaller spaces. It comes in a kit with an adjustable keyboard stand, a padded stool, headphones, a power supply cord, and learning aids.

PROS

Boasts an LCD Screen with teaching modes, which is useful for beginners and also indicates what pace you should be playing

Quality

Price

Our Rating

$$

No best electronic keyboard list will be complete without a model from Casio. From the big-name brand, this keyboard comes with a built-in microphone, 400 AHL voices, a voice percussion function, a step-up learning system, and intuitive sampling tones of different lengths.Casio Inc. can be powered by an adapter or batteries. This keyboard comes with a pair of Samson HP30 closed-cup headphones, a keyboard stand, and a power supply cord. The keyboard weighs in at 25 pounds with a keyboard length of 44 inches, and is a popular choice among buyers.

PROS

Include record and playback capabilities

The screws are attached in the stand

It comes with a pair of Samson HP30 headphones for great sound whether you're on the go or in your home studio

Also included upon purchase is a rugged World Tour keyboard stand.

CONS

The quality of the headphone jack can be improved

No touch sensitivity

Not for the advanced users

Quality

Price

Our Rating

$$

This keyboard is designed for users at beginner or intermediate levels. It has standard-size keys, built-in speakers, 61 keyboard percussions, 225 timbres, 225 rhythms, and 24 demo songs. It also comes with a detachable stand for sheet music. The included headphones and microphone make it good for recording and playback, but it does not come with a power supply cord.

PROS

Has different options as far as instruments and backup beats to choose from

Comes with a fairly sturdy stand, nice seat, decent head phones and mic (have not used the mic)

Easy set-up with stand and stool

CONS

Includes just the holder and not the digital screen

USB port is also not included

Keys are not touch sensitive

Quality

Price

Our Rating

$$

Full-size keys fill the 34" keyboard, and it comes with 60 demos, 300 rhythms, and 300 timbres. This model is lighter than some other keyboards, only 14 pounds, and can be powered by either batteries or a power adapter. It comes with an adjustable, heavy duty steel stand, a music rest, and a power adapter. It also has jacks for headphones and a microphone, a USB port, and an LCD display.

PROS

Comes with a USB port

Easily connects to microphone, headphone, and power line

Equipped with a built in metronome

Advanced enough for a 5 year old but doesn't have small parts that the baby could choke on. Fun for adults too!

CONS

The quality of the keys can be improved

Kids loved that it was loud but the parents thought a hidden volume button is necessary

Quality

Price

Our Rating

$$

Includes headphones, and an adjustable padded bench. Programmed with 200 sounds with layer and split modes, 128 accompaniment rhythms, and 10 featured songs with three instruction modes, it’s a great starting place for a beginner. It can be powered by batteries or a power cord, and it has a USB input port. A power adapter is not included. The keyboard weighs under seven pounds, with a length just under 34 inches.

PROS

Includes a microphone

Easy-to-assemble stand and adjustable bench

Portable and uses six AA batteries to be completely wire-free

The 128 built-in accompaniment rhythms help you create your own original compositions.

CONS

Does not include a MIDI USB connection to connect to a computer

Keys does not light up

Limited service warranty

Quality

Price

Our Rating

$$

Casio is a very popular brand when it comes to electronic keyboards. This model has a built-in microphone, 400 AHL voices, voice percussion function, and sampling effects. It is 40 inches long, 11 and a half pounds, and comes with a step-up learning program, making it a great keyboard for beginners or casual players. It comes with a power supply and USB output, but no stand. It’s very light, and you can play it on your lap.

PROS

A customer was satisfied that it comes with a USB outlet, which means you can connect the piano to your ipod or pc, great sampling system, and a song bank.

Features a Step Up Lesson system which shows players which keys to push.

Kids love the 100+ songs that comes with it. They can just push one button and the song plays.

Includes a 48 Note Polyphony (so you don't have to worry about dropping notes)

CONS

May be a little smaller than the 88 models but has a lot of rhythms and tones.

A customer review stated that Casio could have included a headphone jack. Thus, the keyboard needs an adapter to fit the 3.5mm hole.

A carry bag is also not included upon purchase

Lighted key models begin with "LK": LK190, LK265, LK280.

Quality

Price

Our Rating

$$

With full-size keys to improve proper technique, this electronic keyboard comes with a duo-mode for practicing with a partner, an Aux Line Input, a portable grand reset button, and 32 note polyphony for sustained notes. It can run on batteries or a power adapter, but the power adapter is not included. This model is great for beginner musicians just starting out, weighing just over 10 pounds with a length of 37 and a half inches.

PROS

Features an aux line input allowing you to connect any music device with a headphone output, such as an Mp3 player, a computer, a mixer or even another instrument, and hear it through the internal speakers

It includes Knox stand and Power Adapter upon purchase

Features a Yamaha Education Suite can be used with the more than 100 preset songs, making it the ideal first keyboard for aspiring musicians

CONS

Not for the advanced users

Quality

Price

Our Rating

$$

76-Key

A larger keyboard gives you more versatility, and the ability to play more music with the extra notes available. It’s still not a full acoustic piano size, but noticeably bigger than a 61-key keyboard with almost two more full octaves.

Yamaha electronic keyboards are consistently rated and reviewed well, and this one certainly lives up to the reputation. Graded soft touch action piano-style keys give this electronic keyboard excellent playability. It comes with USB and Flash ROM to download new styles and songs, a pitch bend wheel, and a 6-track sequencer. An X-style stand, headphones, and a power adapter also come with it, in addition to 30 built-in songs and 70 more on a CD-ROM. It is just over 33 pounds, and 53 inches long, making this the biggest keyboard in our top ten.

PROS

There will be no need for batteries either with the included power supply.

Full-sized piano keys

Comes with a Samson HP30 closed back studio headphones that feature a comfortable, padded headband and earcups with 40 millimeter drivers and a frequency range of 20 to 20,000 Hz.

Features a USB & Flash ROM to download new Songs and Styles for playing.

CONS

The headphones and the quality of the keys can be improved

Quality

Price

Our Rating

$$

88-Key

​Full-size keyboards are just like a standard acoustic piano, often with weighted keys to imitate the playability of a real piano. They’re better for more serious players, or those who plan to implement the range of a full keyboard. Consequently, they are also bigger and will require more space than the 61-key models.

Semi-weighted, full-size keys with adjustable touch response and 20-watt built-in speakers make this model nice to play. They come with 128 max polyphone with Lessons, Layer, Standard, and Split modes, and 5 built-in voices. Alesis Recital is lighter and smaller of the two 88-key keyboards we selected for our top ten, weighing nearly 16 pounds, around 50 inches long. Also this can be powered with batteries, or the included power adapter. This is definitely one the best electronic keyboard out there.

PROS

Comes with a free-30 value with included power adapter

Boasts a “Lesson Mode” dividing the keyboard into two areas with the same pitch and voice to enable a student and teacher to easily watch each other and play together without having to take turns.

With USB-MIDI connectivity to connect to computers

Portable. You can switch to using six of your D cell batteries.

CONS

1 year warranty

The small built-in speakers can be improved

Does not come with a sustain pedal

Quality

Price

Our Rating

$$

Another Yamaha, this model is the only one on our list with full-weighted keys to simulate an acoustic piano. It comes with 10 programmed voices (including a real Yamaha grand piano), dual mode to combine voices, and a slim design. It weighs in at 25 pounds, just over 52 inches long, and comes with a power adapter and a sustain pedal. This model is very popular and has consistently good reviews from consumers.

PROS

Includes power adapter and sustain pedal

Features a Yamaha's GHS (Graded Hammer Standard) weighted action which has heavier touch in the low end and lighter touch in the high end.

User-friendly. Can be easily operated with just a touch of a button

CONS

The sustain pedal that comes with it can be improved

Power button and keys can be improved

Volume is not loud enough for some

Not touch sensitive

Quality

Price

Our Rating

$$

How We Chose Our Ratings

Giving you honest and accurate data is one of our most important goals to help you find the best electronic keyboard. Thus, we looked into a lot of different sources for our information as we put this article together. To compile our ratings, we checked product data, testimonials, reviews, and overall brand reputation for the best electronic keyboard.

Buyer’s Guide For The Best Electronic Keyboard

The kind of electronic keyboard you’ll want to buy depends on your needs. Are you using it as a casual player/hobbyist? Or will you be using it to record or perform? Ease of use should also come into your decision-making process; you might want a model with fewer bells and whistles. Size is also important, and transportability as well, if you plan on moving around a lot as you play.

Consider exactly what you’re looking for before you make your final selection, and make sure to read all the features and the extras included with whatever electronic keyboard you decide to buy.

The best electronic keyboard can be a great asset to a musician, whether one’s just starting out or has already learned how to play and is looking to record. Hopefully this guide will give you an idea of what kind of keyboard you’ll like best, what features you want, and what to look for in the one you choose.

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